Treligga is located on the North Cornwall coast and was primarily an aerial bombing and gunnery range. Treligga was officially named HMS Vulture 2 being that it was a satellite of HMS Vulture located at St Merryn Airfield. Pre-war, Treligga was a gliding site, it was then selected by the Fleet Air Arm in 1939 to become an air to ground and air to sea firing range.
Due to a lack of suitable emergency landing grounds in the area, Treligga was also used as a wheels up landing strip. Three grass landing strips were designated each being 650 metres long.
Several buildings were constructed on the site, one of which was a control/observation tower that was some 10 metres in height. A heavily reinforced concrete observation bunker was constructed near to the coastline. This housed quadrant equipment that recorded the angle of dives and accuracy of attacks made by aircraft. Both of these structures remain along with accommodation blocks.
In its early life, the base was run entirely by WRENS. Squadrons using the range included Fighter Pool 748 and School Of Air Combat 736 Squadron. Frequently seen aircraft were Seafires, Masters, Fireflies and Barracuda’s. One aircraft to use the landing ground was a USAAF B17 that was in trouble and needed to get to ground quickly. The crew were surprised and I suspect somewhat pleased to find the base being run by WRENS. The B17 eventually left the base by being stripped down and successfully taking off over the sea.
As the war in Europe started to come to an end, Treligga was altered so to resemble Japanese held territory. Real and dummy tanks, a bridge and road convoy were put in place on the range. A railway was also constructed to provide moving targets. From December 1944 Treligga was being used to train Squadron Commanders and Senior Pilots of units destined to serve in the Pacific Fleet.
After the war Treligga continued in use as a range with aircraft such as Fairy Gannets and Avro Shackletons making use of the facilities. The range finally closed in 1955 and has now returned to farm land. The shots in this report were taken in June 2010.
Control - Observation Tower - until recently derelict but now being refurbed
Reinforced Observation Hut
Motor transport garage
External view of accommodation blocks
Window detail of accommodation block
Boiler house - with a rather sad Volvo outside
Domestic hot water boiler - and yes that is asbestos lagging so if you go here, take precautions
Central heating boiler, again lagged with asbestos
Domestic hot water boiler serving another block
Dormitory block with many original features in place
Toilet and bath block
A bit faded but you can still just make out the words - You can tell this was a naval station -
the rooms are called Cabins
Officers accommodation
Officers accommodation
Officers bathroom
Vintage bath taps
Cast iron basin supports
Cast iron toilet cistern
Original light fitting
Cast iron radiator
Round pin plug socket
Electrical distribution board by Simplex
Original light switches
Room that housed telephone exchange equipment
Kitchen area - note the serving hatch door
Notice board in the dining area
Wash room
Urinal
Air raid shelter entrance
Internal view of air raid shelter
Stripped out bath and toilet
Further external view of accommodation blocks
General view across range and landing ground - control tower visible to the left
Thanks for looking.
Due to a lack of suitable emergency landing grounds in the area, Treligga was also used as a wheels up landing strip. Three grass landing strips were designated each being 650 metres long.
Several buildings were constructed on the site, one of which was a control/observation tower that was some 10 metres in height. A heavily reinforced concrete observation bunker was constructed near to the coastline. This housed quadrant equipment that recorded the angle of dives and accuracy of attacks made by aircraft. Both of these structures remain along with accommodation blocks.
In its early life, the base was run entirely by WRENS. Squadrons using the range included Fighter Pool 748 and School Of Air Combat 736 Squadron. Frequently seen aircraft were Seafires, Masters, Fireflies and Barracuda’s. One aircraft to use the landing ground was a USAAF B17 that was in trouble and needed to get to ground quickly. The crew were surprised and I suspect somewhat pleased to find the base being run by WRENS. The B17 eventually left the base by being stripped down and successfully taking off over the sea.
As the war in Europe started to come to an end, Treligga was altered so to resemble Japanese held territory. Real and dummy tanks, a bridge and road convoy were put in place on the range. A railway was also constructed to provide moving targets. From December 1944 Treligga was being used to train Squadron Commanders and Senior Pilots of units destined to serve in the Pacific Fleet.
After the war Treligga continued in use as a range with aircraft such as Fairy Gannets and Avro Shackletons making use of the facilities. The range finally closed in 1955 and has now returned to farm land. The shots in this report were taken in June 2010.
Control - Observation Tower - until recently derelict but now being refurbed
Reinforced Observation Hut
Motor transport garage
External view of accommodation blocks
Window detail of accommodation block
Boiler house - with a rather sad Volvo outside
Domestic hot water boiler - and yes that is asbestos lagging so if you go here, take precautions
Central heating boiler, again lagged with asbestos
Domestic hot water boiler serving another block
Dormitory block with many original features in place
Toilet and bath block
A bit faded but you can still just make out the words - You can tell this was a naval station -
the rooms are called Cabins
Officers accommodation
Officers accommodation
Officers bathroom
Vintage bath taps
Cast iron basin supports
Cast iron toilet cistern
Original light fitting
Cast iron radiator
Round pin plug socket
Electrical distribution board by Simplex
Original light switches
Room that housed telephone exchange equipment
Kitchen area - note the serving hatch door
Notice board in the dining area
Wash room
Urinal
Air raid shelter entrance
Internal view of air raid shelter
Stripped out bath and toilet
Further external view of accommodation blocks
General view across range and landing ground - control tower visible to the left
Thanks for looking.
Last edited:
That made me LOL - I think I do know what you mean 
